I'd like to learn how to format my computer, what is a good site that has a tutorial on this?

Question

computers

Answer 1

You don't really need a tutorial for this.

Put the CD that came with your PC into the drive bay, reboot, follow the prompts to reformat and reinstall your operating system.

But here's a step by step link.

http://faq.oit.gatech.edu/0305.html

Answer 2

Do you need to format your whole hard drive?

well if you need to format only the C drive to install your operating system just use a bootable operating system CD
or simply XP CD which has the booting capability.

but if you need to format other drives
just go to Command prompt (u can find it in start menu )
and type format:
ex:
C:\>format D:
here you will find some good commands
http://www.geocities.com/tlawlessrr/dos.htm
be careful back up your data b4 formating.

best of luck

Answer 3

Backup your data. Find all your drivers and software and software keys now and develop a plan on how you will reinstall them.
http://blog.angrypets.com/2006/01/ultimate_prefla.html
http://www.thefuhrmans.com/reformat_hd.htm
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp

Keyfinder Thing 3.1.6
http://www.download.com/Keyfinder-Thing/3000-2094_4-10561260.html?tag=lst-0-1

---------------------------------------------
Optional: Wipe the drive use any of these three methods. All data on the drive will be erased.

Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) free
http://www.download.com/Darik-s-Boot-and-Nuke/3000-2092_4-10165154.html
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=61951&package_id=58479&release_id=439240
DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=194873&messageID=2115918
"You can find out the manufacturer of your HD and then attempt to download the formatting tool created by that manufacturer for their HD's. Most HD Mnufactuer have a Zero Fill Low level formatting tool available to erase their HD products. This will clean any existing OS files from your system as well as any viruses other files etc.."


Active@ Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser (Free version/ $29.95 enhanced version)
http://www.killdisk.com/
Active@ KillDisk - Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It's a hard drive and partition eraser utility.
------------------------------------------------
Reformat and Install Windows

Optional: When you format enter "fdisk /mbr" to format the master boot record.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=49909&messageID=593967


Reformat and install. (Cleans drive loses all data)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx
http://www.whitecanyon.com/reformat-the-hard-drive-in-windows-xp.php
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp

Repair install. (should not lose data) Backup files first.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/software/windows/xp/Repair.htm

System File Checker (sfc.exe)
Start> Run> enter "sfc.exe /scannow" in the run box.
Run. You will need the windows XP disk. This utility will check all system files against the disk and repair if needed.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa382541.aspx
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
http://www.networkclue.com/os/Windows/commands/sfc.aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/185836
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747

Answer 4

formatting means , erasing everything in your harddisk
So, be careful

start
run

format.com c:/u
yes